Door lock



g- 11, 1964 c. A. HlLLGREN 3,143,873

DOOR LOCK Filed Nov. 19, 1962 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. C'fiPA A. A014 6951/ 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 DOOR LOCK C. A. HILLGREN Aug. 11, 1964 Filed Nov. 19, 1962 United States Patent C) 3,143,873 DOOR LOCK Carl A. Hillgren, Balboa Island, Calif; Carl C. Hiilgren, executor of said Carl A. Hillgren, deceased, assignor to Parkway Magnetics, a corporation of California Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,596 2 Claims. ((11. 70-147) This invention relates to improvements in door locks.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved door lock wherein the latch bolt that is retracted from its projected position by the rotation of a spindle has a retractor which is pivotally or swingably mounted on the latch bolt. In the usual door lock the connection between the latch bolt and the spindle is rigid with the latch bolt, being either integral therewith or rigidly attached thereto. Consequently, on rotation of the spindle the frictional engagement between the spindle and the retractor causes the retractor to tend to tilt the latch bolt in the barrel or housing in which it is slidable, with the result that the latch bolt tends to bind therein. By having the retractor pivotally mounted on the latch bolt or at least mounted for swinging movement relatively thereto, the tendency of the latch bolt to tilt and bind in its barrel is minimized so that the latch bolt remains freely slidable therein at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple mechanism for locking and unlocking the door lock by a small axial movement of the inner door knob. In accordance with the present invention when the inner door knob is moved axially a short distance towards the door the spindle is automatically locked against rotation, and retraction of the latch bolt by rotating the outer door knob is impossible.

Conversely, if the inner door knob is pulled axially a short distance from the door the spindle is released for rotation so that it may be operated by the outer door knob to retract the latch bolt. The present construction also enables the use of a cylinder lock in the outer door knob which controls rotation of its own spindle that can be rotated when the proper key is inserted in the cylinder lock to retract the latch bolt even though the outer door knob remains locked against rotation by the positioning of the inner door knob.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door lock which may or may not embody the above-mentioned features wherein the latch can be deadlatched by the spindle in its projected position so that the latch cannot be forcibly moved from its projected position into its retracted position without the insertion and manipulation of a proper key. Such a lock is highly desirable for use in a variety of different circumstances and conditions but is particularly advantageous when employed on the doors of trailers or mobile homes. In such doors it is desirable to lock the door in closed position during transit by means of the key and to have the latch deadlatched inits projected position during transit so that door cannot be opened by unauthorized persons.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an edge View of a portion of a door in which the door lock embodying the present invention has been mounted;

FIG. 2 is a partial view in horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 22 upon FIG. 1 in the direction indicated;

FIG. 3 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 3-3 upon FIG. 2, in the direction indicated;

3,143,873 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 ice FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 44 upon FIG. 2 in the direction indicated, illustrating the position assumed by parts when the latch bolt is projected;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating the position assumed by parts when the latch bolt is retracted;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 66 upon FIG. 2 in the direction indicated;

FIG. 7 is a partial view similar to a portion of FIG. 2 but illustrating the inner door knob as having been shifted into its innermost position to lock the spindle against rotation;

FIG. 8 is a partial view in horizontal section of a lock embodying the present invention, wherein the latch is capable of being deadlatched in its projected position;

FIG. 9 is a partial view in section taken substantially upon the line 9--9 upon FIG. 8 in the direction indicated, the latch being shown in its normal or projected position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating the manner in which the latch can be retracted by rotation of the spindle; and 1 FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but illustrating the position assumed by the parts when the latch is deadlatched in its projected position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved lock is shown in FIG. 1 as having been mounted in a door D and has a projectable .and retractable latch bolt 10 that can normally be retracted by rotating either the outer door knob 11 or the inner door knob 12 located on the outer and inner sides of the door D respectively.

The latch bolt 10 is slidable in a barrel or case 13 and has a beveled end 14 engageable with the usual strike, not shown, in the course of closing the door. The barrel 13 has its outer end flanged as indicated at 15 which flange is recessed in the edge of the door D and held therein such as by wood screws 16. The forward portion of the latch bolt is formed with a shoulder 17 that engages a portion of the flange 15 to limit outward sliding movement of the latch bolt from within the barrel 13.

The latch bolt is urged into its projected position by a coil compression spring 18 that is compressed between the back of the latch bolt and a closure or disc 19 that largely closes the inner end of the barrel 13. This compression spring is disposed about a projection 20 on the back of the latch bolt that is arranged at the side of a diametrical slot 21. The projection 20 has a small lug or projection 22 formed on its side so as to overhang the slot 21. The latch bolt is retracted by means of a stirrup-shaped retractor 23 that has its forward end extending into the slot 21. This retractor has an aperture 24 formed therein into which the projection or lug 22 extends, thus forming a pivoted or swingable connection between the retractor 23 and the latch bolt 10.

The inner end of the retractor extends through a slot 25 formed in the closure or disc 19 and as there is considerable clearance between the ends of this slot and the side edges of the retractor the retractor is free to swing therein between relatively wide limits in the course of retracting the latch bolt. The inner end of the retractor has a relatively large aperture 26 formed therein in which one or more spindle segments are swingable or movable in arcuate paths. As illustrated, one of such arcuate spindle segments is shown at 27 that is movable by either the door knob 11 or the door knob 12 when the lock is unlocked. A second spindle segment 28 is shown as movable therein by a cylinder look (not shown) which, if employed, is mounted within the outer knob 11. Such a cylinder lock if operated by a proper key can swing the inner spindle segment 28 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 to retract the latch bolt 10. Regardless of whether the cylinder lock and its spindle segment 28 is employed or not rotation of either door knob 11 or 12 when the door is unlocked will bring about a similar movement of the spindle segment 27 and consequently a similar retraction of the-latchbolt 10.

The lock case is formed of two opposedparts applicable to the oppositesides of the door D. The outer part, generally indicated at 29 serves to rotatably mount the spindle which .has the arcuate segment 27. This spindle has a lug -30 that is receivable through a groove 31 in the outer lock case part 29 when the spindle has been rotated 180 from the positionshown in FIG. 2. After the lug 30 has passed through the groove 51 and the spindle has been rotated into the position shown in FIG. 2 the engagement of the lug with the inner surface of the outer case part 29 prevents axial withdrawal of the spindle from the lock in all normal positions of the spindle.

On the walls of the outer case part there are formed bosses 32 and 33 in which "there are threaded holes which receive bolts 34 and 35. The side of the outer case part also forms spaced opposed ribs 36 and 37 which are slidably receivable in grooves formed on the inner end of the barrel 13. These rib and groove connections between the outer lock case part and the barrel 13 retain the barrel in-place in the dooreven though the wood screws 16 may 'be removed. Furthermore, the slidable connection between the barrel and the lock case permits of adjustment of the barrel with relation to the lock case in the event that the hole drilled in the edge of the door for the barrel 13 is inaccurately located.

The inner lock case part is in reality made up of two principal parts 38 and 39. The part 38 has semi-cylindrical lugs 40 and 41 that fit against the bosses 32 and 33, see FIG. 4. The inner lock case part serves to slidably support an inner spindle 42 on which the inner door knob '12 is mounted. This inner door knob is retained in place on the spindle by a spring-actuated detent 43 that is urged outwardly by a compression spring 44, see FIG. 3, between an end closure 45 and the detent. The pin 46, when projected, extends through aligned or registering apertures in the spindle 42 and in the door knob 12 to lock the door knobon the spindle. However, if the detent 43 is pressed inwardly to disengage the pin 46 from the door knob 12 the door knob can be removed from the spindle. The closure 45 is retained in place in the diametrical bore through the spindle '42 such as by riveting over the edgesof the bore as indicated at 47.

The spindle 42 has two diametrically opposed lugs 48 and 49 formed thereon, see FIGS. 6 and 7, which are receivable in grooves 50 and 51 formed on the interior of the lock case part 39 when the spindle 42 is moved to its innermost position. When the lugs 48 and 49 are disposed in these grooves rotation of the inner spindle 42 is prevented. The end of the spindle segment 27 is extended as shown in FIG. 2 to fit in a corresponding groove in the bottom of the spindle 42, thus forming an axially slidable but a non-rotatable connection between the outer spindle with which the segment is integral, and the inner spindle 42. Consequently when the inner spindle is locked against rotation relative to the inner lock case part 39 by the engagement of lugs 48 and 49 therewith it is impossible to rotate the outer spindle or the knob 11 to retract the latch bolt 10. Conversely, if the inner spindle 42 is moved inwardly to cause the lugs 48 and 49 to clear the grooves 50 and 51 in the inner lock case parts 39 rotation of the inner spindle 42 is permissible by the inner door knob 12 and rotation of the outer spindle by the outer doorknob 11 is also permissible.

On the inner spindle 42 there are formed two opposed cam surfaces 52 and 53 which slope in opposite directions. The lock case part 39 provides a spring seat for a circular spring 54, see FIG. 6, a portion of which indicated at is bent inwardly through a slot and is urged to bear against one or the other of the cam surfaces 5'2 and 53. The spring 54 and its functional portion 55 serve as a snap-over spring urging the inner spindle 42 to occupy one of its extreme positions or the other. The spring 54 is retained on its spring seat by the inner part 38 which is attached to the outer part 39 such as by riveting indicated at 56.

On the inner end of the spindle 42 there is formed a flange 57 that bears against the inner wall surface of part 38 to limit axial movement of the spindle 42 in one direction. Movement of the spindle 42 in the opposite direction is limited by the engagement of the abrupt surface on the spindle adjacent the cam surface 52 with the inwardly'projecting portion 55 of spring 54.

The operation of the lock as above described is substantially as follows.

With the lock in its open position rotation of the outer knob 11 produces rotation of the spindle segment 27 about the axis of rotation of the outer spindle in the outer lock case part 29. Rotational movement of the spindle segment 27 in either direction causes one edge of this segment to engage the innermost edge of aperture 26 on the retractor causing the retractor to retract the latch bolt 10. During this movement the retractor can pivot or swing on the projection 22, compare FIGS. 4 and 5, and due to this pivotal or swinging movement there is no tendency on the part of the retractor to tilt or bind the latch bolt 10 in the barrel 13. Consequently, the latch bolt remains freely slidable in its barrel at all times. When the inner door knob 12 is rotated and is capable of rotating the inner spindle '42 this also produces rotational movement of the spindle segment 27, resulting in a retraction of the latch bolt. The inner spindle 42, however, is only free to rotate when the inner spindle is in its innermost position or in the position shown in FIG. 2. If the inner knob 12 -is pushed axially towards the door the lugs 48 and 49 which are normally in alignment with the grooves 50 and 51 enter these grooves in the lock case part 39, thus locking the inner spindle 42 against rotation. When the inner spindle is locked against rotation in this manner, rota tion of the spindle segment 27 is impossible due to the slidable but non-rotatable connection between the segment 27 and the inner spindle. Consequently, as long as the inner spindle remains in this position or in the position shown in FIG. 7, retraction of the latch bolt 10 by the outer knob 11 is impossible. The inner spindle is urged to remain in this position until positively moved therefrom by the pressure of the spring portion 55 against the inclined cam surface 52. However, when the inner spindle is forced axially away from the inner face of the door D the spring portion 55 is cammed outwardly by the surface 52 and adopts a position as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the inner spindle 42 is maintained in a position wherein the lugs 48 and 49-clear the grooves 50 and 51.

It will thus be appreciated that a mere movement of the inner knob 12 axially a short distance toward the door D serves to lock the lock preventing retraction of the latch bolt 10 by either knob. Conversely, if the inner knob 12 is pulled away from the door D a short distance axially the lock is opened for retraction of the latch bolt 10 by rotating either knob. If the lock is locked it may at all times be opened by the cylinder lock that may be in the outer knob 11 and which swings or rotates spindle segment 28 as illustrated in FIG. 5. However, when the latch bolt 10 is retracted in this manner it does not alter or affect the position of the inner spindle 42 or of the inner knob 12. Consequently, even though the door may be opened by the application of a proper key to the cylinder lock that may be in knob 11, the door lock remains locked on slamming the door until such time as door knob 12 is positively pulled inwardly. Slamming of the door in closed position never serves to accidentally cause an unlocking of the lock. On the contrary, if the door is slammed with sufiicient force the knob 12 and spindle 42 may be shifted, from an unlocking position into a locking position if spring 54 is weak. Ordinarily, however, the spring 54 is sufiiciently strong to prevent this occurring.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive, the adaptability of the present lock design to a lock whose latch bolt can be deadlatched in projected position is demonstrated. In this construction the parts illustrated are the same as those previously described as will be recognized by a comparison, with the following exceptions.

The outer knob 60 corresponding to the outer knob 11 is rigidly mounted on the outer spindle 61 having the arcuate portion 62 extending through the aperture 63 in the retractor 64 for the latch bolt. The arcuate portion 62.is extended to slidably fit against the spindle 65 that corresponds to spindle 42 on which the inn-er knob 66 is mounted in the same manner previously described.

Within the outer end of the outer spindle there is mounted centrally thereof at 67 a key-controlled cylinder lock controlled by a key 68. This cylinder lock is of the type which when its key 68 is withdrawn from its keyhole in the cylinder the cylinder is locked against rotation from the position in which the key was withdrawn. As such key-controlled locks are common in the art the details of construction thereof have not been illustrated.

The cylinder of the cylinder lock is either rigid with or operatively connected to an inner spindle 69 so that when the cylinder is rotated by the key 68 it will rotate the inner spindle 69 which carries an eccentrically located arm 70 between the outer end of the spindle 69 and its inner end indicated at 71, the end of which is preferably beveled for the purpose of facilitating assembly as indicated at 72. The eccentric arm 70 also extends through the aperture 63 in the latch bolt retractor 64. In this form of construction the aperture 63 is so shaped as to provide two shoulders 73 and 74 engageable by the edges 75 and 76 respectively, on the arcuate portion 62 of the outer spindle 61. Thus, if the lock is unlocked so that the outer spindle 61 can be turned or rotated by either the outer knob 60 or the inner knob 66, the edge 75 will engage shoulder 73 if the knob is turned in one direction to cause the retractor 64 to retract the latch bolt. Conversely, if either knob is turned in the opposite direction edge 76 will engage shoulder 74 and cause the retractor to retract the latch bolt.

Rearwardly from the two shoulders 73 and 74 the retractor presents an edge 77 that is arranged in the path of the edge 78 on one side of the arm 70 when this arm and the inner spindle 69 are turned as a result of turning the cylinder lock 67 by the key 68. Thus, if the arm 70 is turned by the key in one direction from the position shown in FIG. 9 into the dotted line position shown in FIG. 10, the edge 78 on engaging the edge 77 will cause the retractor to retract the latch bolt. Rotation of the inner spindle 69 in this direction is limited by the edge 78 engaging the shoulder 79 at one end of the edge 77. The aperture 63 in the retractor 64 is so shaped as toprovide an arcuate extension 80 on the opposite side of shoulder 79 capable of receiving the arm 70 on the spindle 69 if the spindle is rotated by the key 68 in the opposite direction. Thus, the arm 70 is capable of rotating from the position shown in FIG. 9 into the position shown in FIG. 11 wherein it largely occupies the arcuate extension 80 of aperture 63 behind the arm 81 on the retractor on which the edge 77 and shoulder 79 are formed.

In the position shown in FIG. 11 it will be appreciated that the arm 70 on the key-controlled spindle 69 interferes with inward or retracting movement of retractor 64. Consequently, in this position the latch bolt is deadlatched in its projected position and cannot be forced from its projected position into its retracted position. Some small amount of movement may be permitted due to the clearance between the stud or projection 82 on the latch bolt and the ends of the aperture 83 in the retractor but'this is of such a limited connection that despite such movement the latch bolt cannot be moved into a sufliciently retracted position to enable the door to be opened.

It will be appreciated from the construction shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, that the key 68 can be withdrawn from its lock in a position wherein the inner spindle 69 is locked relative to the outer spindle 61 in the position shown in FIG. 9. In this position the outer spindle can be rotated by either doorknob if the inner doorknob 66 has been axially pulled away from the door to free the lugs on the spindle 65 corresponding to lugs 48 and 49 and enabling spindle 65 to be turned. Consequently, in this position rotation of either knob will cause one or the other of the edges 75 and 76 on the outer spindle to cause the retractor to retract the latch bolt in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10. The outer spindle 61 can be locked against rotation and consequently against retracting the retractor by axially sliding the inner knob 66 toward the door. This causes the lugs on the spindle 65 that'correspond to lugs 48 and 49 to engage with the inner lock-case parts and lock the outer spindle 61 against rotation. In such a position neither knob can be rotated to retract the latch bolt. If the door is locked in this manner and it is desired to unlock the lock by means of the key 68, the key is inserted into the cylinder lock and the inner spindle 69 is rotated thereby. When the inner spindle 69 is rotated in one direction as illustrated in FIG. 10, it is effective to engage the edge 77 and cause the retractor 64 to retract the latch bolt even though outer spindle 61 is locked against rotation. Consequently, turning the key 68 in one direction is effective to retract the latch bolt and enable the door to be opened by a person possessing the proper key.

Regardless of whether the outer spindle 61 is free to rotate by either knob or is locked against rotation by either knob, rotation of the spindle 69 by the key 68 in the opposite direction causes the arm 70 to pass from the position shown in FIG. 9 into the position shown in FIG. 11, occupying the extension of aperture 63 behind arm 81. In this position the retractor is deadlatched against retracting movement. The latch bolt cannot be forced from its projected position into its retracted position nor will rotation of the arcuate extension 62 on the outer spindle 61 be effective to retract the retractor even if the spindle 61 were otherwise free to rotate.

It will thus be appreciated that in the construction shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 the key can be used to optionally deadlatch the latch bolt or to retract the latch bolt by the retractor. Furthermore, in this form of construction, when the key is not employed axially shifting the inner knob 66 toward the door serves to lock the outer spindle 61 and consequently both knobs against rotation so that neither knob can retract the latch bolt. It is only when the inner knob is axially slid or shifted away from the door that both knobs and the outer spindle 61 are freed to rotate and elfect a retraction of the latch bolt.

The construction illustrated for deadlatching the latch bolt is not necessarily limited in its application to locks possessing the pivotal or swingable connection between the retractor and the latch bolt, or constructions wherein the outer spindle 61 is locked against rotation by axially sliding the inner knob toward the door. On the contrary, the deadlatching construction may be employed in any form of lock employing an apertured retractor for the latch bolt and having an eccentrically located arcuate outer spindle section 62 capable of accommodating a keycontrolled inner spindle arm 70. If the key 68 is withdrawn from its key-controlled cylinder lock 67 when the inner spindle 69 is in its deadlatching position the very fact that the cylinder of the cylinder lock 67 is locked in this position on withdrawal of the key prevents the cylinder from being turned to rotate the inner spindle 69 and shift its arm 70 from deadlatching position.

Various changes may be made in the details of con struction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

7 I claim: 1. A door lock comprising a projectable and retractable flatch bolt, rotary spindle means adapted upon rotation to retract the latch bolt, means at one end of the spindle by which it may be rotated, axially movable means at the other end of the spindle means having a non-rotatable but axially movable connection with the spindle means by which the spindle means may also be rotated, and means for locking the axially movable means against rotation to thus lock the spindle means against rotation when the axially movable means is caused to assume one axial position and to free the axially movable means for rotation and consequently the spindle means for rotation when the axially movable means is caused to assume another axial position, a lockcontrolled secondary spindle means operable to retract the latch bolt upon rotation when the mentioned spindle means is locked against rotation by the axially movable means.

2. In a door lock, the combination of an apertured retractor, a 'key lock controlled spindle having an eccentrically located arm extending through the aperture in the retractor, a second spindle extending in the aperture in the retractor, said second spindle having knobs by which it may be rotated in either direction, means for optionally locking the second spindle against rotation, said re'tractor presenting portions engageable by both spindles for causing the retractor to retract when either spindle is rotated,

said retractor providing an arm behind which a portion of the key lock controlled spindleis movable when rotated in one direction to deadlatch the retractor against rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,773 Jordan June 11, 1872 1,522,628 Holt Jan. 13, 1925 1,681,187 Keesling Aug. 21, 1928 1,728,263 Ellingson' Sept. 17, 1929 1,928,466 Scott Sept. 26, 1933 2,314,488 Fellows Mar. 23, 1943 2,602,318 Belausteguigoitia July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 288,013 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1928 421,384 Great Britain Dec. 19, 1934' 

1. A DOOR LOCK COMPRISING A PROJECTABLE AND RETRACTABLE LATCH BOLT, ROTARY SPINDLE MEANS ADAPTED UPON ROTATION TO RETRACT THE LATCH BOLT, MEANS AT ONE END OF THE SPINDLE BY WHICH IT MAY BE ROTATED, AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPINDLE MEANS HAVING A NON-ROTATABLE BUT AXIALLY MOVABLE CONNECTION WITH THE SPINDLE MEANS BY WHICH THE SPINDLE MEANS MAY ALSO BE ROTATED, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS AGAINST ROTATION TO THUS LOCK THE SPINDLE MEANS AGAINST ROTATION WHEN THE AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS IS CAUSED TO ASSUME ONE AXIAL POSITION AND TO FREE THE AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS FOR ROTATION AND CONSEQUENTLY THE SPINDLE MEANS FOR ROTATION WHEN THE AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS IS CAUSED TO ASSUME ANOTHER AXIAL POSITION, A LOCK CONTROLLED SECONDARY SPINDLE MEANS OPERABLE TO RETRACT THE LATCH BOLT UPON ROTATION WHEN THE MENTIONED SPINDLE MEANS IS LOCKED AGAINST ROTATION BY THE AXIALLY MOVABLE MEANS. 